Round Rewind: Rabbitohs Stun Panthers with First-Half Blitz

South Sydney launched a first-half ambush that left the four-time defending premiers shell-shocked in round five of the 2025 season. With the spine firing and the pack laying the platform, the Rabbitohs piled on five unanswered tries to race to a 28-0 lead at halftime, holding on in the second forty to defeat Penrith 28-18 at Accor Stadium.

The opening try came inside five minutes. Cody Walker took possession on the left and placed a pinpoint grubber in behind the defensive line. Keaon Koloamatangi timed his run perfectly, bursting through and grounding the ball before the Panthers could react.

Minutes later, another left-edge movement saw key spine players involved with the ball. Jye Gray floated a cutout pass to Jack Wighton, who drew in his opposite number and shifted the ball to Alex Johnston. Sprinting down the sideline, Johnston beat his defender with pace and finished cleanly in the corner.

Jamie Humphreys added a penalty goal to extend the margin to 12-0. The Rabbitohs were back on the attack shortly after, and Peter Mamouzelos picked out Koloamatangi on a crash line. With Nathan Cleary defending in front, Keaon powered through the contact and reached out to score his second try of the night.

Five minutes later, Mamouzelos went short again. This time it was a no-look ball to Davvy Moale, who ran a direct line and carried defenders with him to score next to the posts. With just over a minute left in the half, the Rabbitohs were deep in Penrith’s end again. Spotting retreating markers, Jye Gray jumped into dummy half, accelerated through the ruck, and wrestled past two defenders to score. Souths went into the sheds up 28-0 after one of their most commanding halves of football.

The second half saw Penrith mount a push. Liam Martin crossed early, followed by tries to Brad Schneider and Jack Cole in the final stages. The Rabbitohs didn’t add to their tally after the break but maintained composure under pressure, with strong defensive efforts from Isaiah Tass—who filled in after Johnston was ruled out—and the middle forwards helping to secure the result.

South Sydney walked away with a 28-18 win and a valuable two points against one of the competition’s toughest opponents.

Key Performers

Jye Gray – one try, six tackle breaks, 172 run metres, 37 post contact metres
Peter Mamouzelos – two try assists, two line break assists, 38 tackles
Keaon Koloamatangi – two tries, seven tackle breaks, 20 tackles
Davvy Moale - one try, 104 run metres, 32 post contact metres, 24 tackles (none missed)